Vladimir Putin is dividing the West –don't bet on Trump to help us

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In the British mind, the Crimea means the Charge of the Light Brigade, Florence Nightingale, and all that, more than 150 years ago. We – and the West in general – know little of what the Crimea means right now. We should know more, because it helps explain why this week the Russians have literally got away with murder in Aleppo, why they tried to affect the result of the US presidential election and why they are winning.

In February 2014, the pro-Russian president of Ukraine was ejected by popular revolt. A few days later, masked troops without insignia took over key installations in the Crimea, which was part of Ukraine. An “independent, self-governing” Crimean republic was proclaimed, at the...